This report was prepared jointly by two OECD directorates, namely the Directorate for Public Governance (GOV), led by Elsa Pilichowski, Director, and the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director. The report was drafted under the strategic direction of Adam Knelman Ostry, Head of Unit, Public Governance Reviews (GOV), and Dorothée Allain-Dupré, Head of Division, Regional Development and Multi-level Governance (CFE). Overall project management was led by Adam K. Ostry; project co-ordination was led by Johannes Klein and Isidora Zapata with the help of Yingyin Wu and Patricia Marcelino.
The OECD Secretariat wishes to express its gratitude to all those who made this Better Governance, Planning and Services in Local Self-Governments in Poland report possible, especially the representatives of the APC and the MDFRP. Throughout the process, they have both shown great dedication and commitment, including mobilising all relevant stakeholders. In particular, the OECD would like to thank the team of the APC, headed by Andrzej Porawski, Executive Director, and Tomasz Potkański, Deputy Executive Director. Special thanks go to Anna Wiktorczyk-Nadolna, Katarzyna Paczyńska, Hanna Leki and Alicja Stachowiak for their continuous support. The Secretariat also wishes to acknowledge the contributions from Counsellor Joanna Held in the Unit for Municipalities Support, Department for Assistance Programmes in the MDFRP, and from Miroslaw Grochowski from the Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies of the University of Warsaw as well as by Maciej Aulak, Director, Department for Assistance Programmes, and Kamil Wieder, Head of Unit for Municipalities Support, Department for Assistance Programmes, MDFRP.
The OECD would further like to thank the respondents of the questionnaire that provided the evidence for this report. Overall, 10 counties, 47 local self-government units (LSGUs), 8 voivodeship offices, 12 marshal offices and 7 ministries and independent public institutions at the national level submitted their answers.
During four fact-finding missions, the OECD conducted in-depth interviews with a representative sample of nine LSGUs and the Metropolitan Association of Upper Silesia and Zagłębie (Górnośląsko-Zagłębiowska Metropolia (GZM Metropolis)). In addition, the OECD met with numerous institutions from the executive, independent public institutions and non-governmental actors, including a wide range of civil society organisations and academics. These interviews were instrumental in further improving the OECD’s understanding of the Polish context and helping to recommend courses of action that reflect local and sectoral priorities. The team also expresses its appreciation to representatives from the LSGUs of Katowice, Krotoszyn, Łańcut, Łubianka, Międzyrzec Podlaski (urban municipality), Międzyrzec Podlaski (rural municipality), Ziębice and GZM Metropolis who kindly received the OECD Secretariat during the first two fact-finding missions to Poland as well as to representatives from the LSGUs of Kutno and Płock who offered their knowledge virtually after the COVID-19 pandemic prevented travelling. The authors would also like to thank all stakeholders at the regional and national level of government, who shared their views and experience during subsequent OECD missions that were conducted virtually.
The OECD would also like to extend its gratitude to the peer reviewers, who provided invaluable input and extensive country-based knowledge during the drafting process and a workshop in June 2021:
Israel: Nily Ben Moshe, Deputy Manager - Senior Division for Recruitment and Selection Process, Civil Service Commission of Israel
Lithuania: Saulius Kolyta, Regulatory and Evaluation Expert, Lithuanian Government Strategic Analysis Center (STRATA)
Sweden: Sverker Lindblad, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation
United Kingdom: Natalia Domagala, Head of Data Ethics Policy, Central Digital & Data Office, Cabinet Office & Sam Roberts, Head of Open Data & Open Government, Central Digital & Data Office, Cabinet Office
A number of authors drafted the report. The introductory chapter was prepared by Andres Sanabria, Fernando Riaza Fernández, Isidora Zapata, Johannes Klein, and Yingyin Wu. Chapter 1 on strengths and challenges for LSGU development was written by Andres Sanabria and Fernando Riaza Fernández with the guidance of Enrique Garcilazo. Johannes Klein drafted Chapter 2 on co-ordination across administrative units and policy sectors within LSGUs, with input from Patricia Marcelino, and provided feedback on all chapters. Oscar Huerta Melchor drafted Chapter 3 on strategic planning for local development. Claire Salama and Guillermo Hernandez wrote Chapter 4 on the use of evidence in strategic decision-making in Polish LSGUs. Thomas Braendle prepared Chapter 5 on budgeting in LSGUs with input from Sean Dougherty. Isidora Zapata developed Chapter 6 on strengthening multi-level governance and investment capacity to enhance local development and provided input on all chapters. Antti Moisio and Yingyin Wu provided input on Chapter 6. Dónal Mulligan drafted Chapter 7 on a strategic and effective LSGU workforce. Chapter 8 on open government was prepared by Carla Musi and Marie Whelan with the guidance of Emma Cantera. Costanza Caputi, Gloriana Madrigal and Guillermo Hernandez wrote Chapter 9 on reducing administrative burden and simplifying public procurement. Tessa Cullen provided input on Chapter 9. The accompanying synthesis assessments and the self-assessment tool benefitted from input of all author teams. Pilar Philip and Ciara Muller prepared the manuscript for publication. Meghan Hennessy provided administrative support. Eleonore Morena provided editorial work. The cover of the publication was prepared by Erica Weathers.